{"id":3477,"date":"2026-04-16T11:02:16","date_gmt":"2026-04-16T09:02:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thefutureisours.nl\/logistics-service-providers-and-shippers\/rail-shipper-of-the-year-2025\/"},"modified":"2026-04-16T11:08:15","modified_gmt":"2026-04-16T09:08:15","slug":"rail-shipper-of-the-year-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thefutureisours.nl\/en\/logistics-service-providers-and-shippers\/rail-shipper-of-the-year-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Rail Shipper of the Year 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n

\u201cOf course we knew it would be challenging, yet we are doing it.\u201d<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
The transport of fresh flowers and plants by rail throughout Europe is considered impossible by many. \u201cYet we are doing it,\u201d laughs Mike van der Kooij, senior transport coordinator at Van Dijk Flora. \u201cAnd with that, we reduce CO\u2082 emissions per trailer of flowers or plants by about 45 to 60 percent. Reason enough to further expand intermodal transport, even though that is not always easy.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n
\"Mike<\/div>\n
\n

Van Dijk Flora, based in Honselersdijk in the Westland region, supplies flowers and plants to discount retailers in thirty different countries. Innovation and sustainability are important pillars within the company, and on that fertile ground, Van der Kooij was given the opportunity to experiment with intermodal transport. \u201cOf course, we knew it would be challenging,\u201d says the transport coordinator. \u201cWe transport fresh produce, and that means short delivery times with little room for delays. If a truck breaks down on the side of the road, you uncouple the trailer and attach it to another vehicle. If a train derails, you can\u2019t get to it, and you can\u2019t just send another train. That is a risk.\u201d<\/p>\n

Successful pilot<\/strong><\/p>\n

In 2023, Van der Kooij launched a pilot to Sweden in collaboration with Joint Corridor Zuid-Holland, Evofenedex, and partner carrier Hartman. \u201cWe started with a major operation: three depots and three full trailers of flowers that could be transported intermodally,\u201d he explains. \u201cEach trailer was booked separately and loaded onto the train via the terminal. It was a logistical puzzle, but it worked, and the results were convincing: up to 900 kilos of CO\u2082 reduction per trailer compared to road transport. The client also responded enthusiastically. \u201cRetailers in Scandinavia greatly appreciate this step towards sustainability. CO\u2082 reporting is becoming increasingly important to them.\u201d \u201cI do notice that this is not yet the case in all European countries.\u201d<\/p>\n

Guaranteed transport<\/strong><\/p>\n

However, rail transport within the floriculture sector is not a given. \u201cThere is a chain of lights that all need to be green,\u201d explains Van der Kooij. \u201cBesides our own volumes, this ranges from the availability of the train to the timing of the terminal and the commitment of the carrier. One hitch in the system and your entire schedule is turned upside down.\u201d Fixed volumes are crucial for profitable operation, but that is not a certainty. \u201cIt is difficult for us to secure guaranteed transport every week and create such a fixed structure. Ideally, we bundle volumes with other exporters. That is also where the collaboration with Joint Corridor Zuid-Holland and Evofenedex becomes important: they help bring parties together.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pioneering<\/strong><\/p>\n

For Van Dijk Flora, rail transport fits into a broader sustainability strategy. \u201cTransport is a key component of this.\u201d \u201cIntermodal transport is simply the only way to achieve major CO\u2082 reductions,\u201d says the transport coordinator. \u201cAlthough planning the routes is not always without bumps, Van der Kooij is determined to continue with the train. \u201cWe have already learned a lot and are building further on knowledge and experience. It is pioneering work, but that is precisely what makes it so great.\u201d His ambition extends beyond Van Dijk Flora alone. \u201cIf we really want to make an impact as a sector, we need to share knowledge further and collaborate. Rail transport offers enormous opportunities for sustainability. It is a necessary change.\u201d \"Winners<\/p>\n

Mike van der Kooij together with the three other winners: Robbe Van Grembergen, Marieke Koekkoek and Daan van der Kar.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cOf course we knew it would be challenging, yet we are doing it.\u201d The transport of fresh flowers and plants…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3477","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-logistics-service-providers-and-shippers"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thefutureisours.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3477","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thefutureisours.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thefutureisours.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thefutureisours.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thefutureisours.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3477"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/thefutureisours.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3477\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thefutureisours.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3477"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thefutureisours.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3477"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thefutureisours.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3477"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}